Earth's End by Elise Kova - Tales From the Front + Giveaway!

Happy Monday my darlings! Today is such an exciting day for me because I was given the oppurtunity by the lovely author Elise Kova herself to host the eleventh (and last!) exclusive POV chapter for Tales From the Front, from the bestselling Air Awakens series! If you haven't already noticed, I am absolutely in love with this series and I have sometimes found myself randomly recommending these books to strangers that I see in bookstores. Trust me--these books are that good! If you'd like to read my review for the first book in the series, Air Awakens, you can click HERE! Now, you are probably wanting to know a bit more information on what exactly Tales From the Front is, right? Don't worry, Elise and I got you covered!

TALES FROM THE FRONT

Tales from the Front is a series of notes, alternate POV chapters, and other teasers that take place from just before the end of Fire Falling (Air Awakens, #2) to the beginning of Earth’s End (Air Awakens, #3). They are being sent out at random with the idea that bloggers and readers can ban together to put the puzzle pieces together to find out a different side to the story and uncover truths about the characters.

Bloggers and readers are invited to re-post information so long as they link back to the individual who posted it originally. In fact, this is generally encouraged, as it’ll help connect all the pieces! You never know who will be receiving information and when. Like I said above, this POV chapter is the eleventh and last one, but if you'd like to read the first one, click HERE to view it!

A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.
Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.

Baldair was tipsy.

Which, was rather impressive when one considered the sheer size of the man. Erion knew the Golden Prince’s tolerance as well as his own and knew just the right mix of spirits to get Baldair to the place he wanted him to be. Tonight, that place was just enough to loosen his tongue, but not enough to impede his performance. The prince looked like he could use a tumble in the sheets and Erion knew better than to get in the way of that.

It wasn’t that he relished in getting his sovereign inebriated. But, alas, sometimes it was necessary and this was one of those times. He blamed the young woman who had been Jax’s shadow for days on end. The same young woman who had just turned Daniel into a simpering puppy. The same young woman who had Baldair running to her the moment he arrived in Soricium. Yes, that young woman, the one he was nearly certain was the Windwalker and no one would confirm nor deny.

It was so irksome.

“Brother.” Erion let a little slur slip into the word, giving the impression that he was equally sauced. “You’re not yourself this night. Usually your return is more joyous. Tell me what’s heavy on your brow.”

“But I am joyous.” Baldair tapped Erion’s mug with his, taking another sip. “For I have returned to find that you and Jax have yet to burn down the place.”

“Burning is more Jax’s fashion.” Much to the lament of his own family, Erion mused. Erion should have been born a Firebearer to continue the Le’Dan line.

“Too true!” Baldair gave a full bellied laugh. “And he is rather wild with it.”

“You are not one to talk when it comes to being wild.” Erion smirked. “Tell me, when will you put the others aside and just take Raylynn for a bride.”

“She does not want it, and neither do I.”

“So you claim, but you spend an awful lot of time together.”

“Time does not mean marriage.” Baldair slung an arm around Erion’s shoulders. “Affection for affection’s sake is also possible.”

“And now you sound Eastern.” Erion shook his head in amusement. The prince was close, relaxed. It was time to strike. “Speaking of Eastern… The one who left with Daniel, she has Eastern eyes.”

Baldair stiffened, and it told Erion everything. “What of it?”

“Just an odd mix in the West.” Erion made a show of sipping his mug. “Much about her is odd. Much about your reaction to her has also been odd.”

“My reacting to a woman is not odd.”

“But she’s not your type.” Erion knew Baldair’s type: curvy, full-lipped, strong, tall, and generally breathtaking. The young woman who went by the name Serien Leral was none of these things. “She’s the type you make sport of to get a rise out of when you’re bored.”

“Truer than you know.” Baldair laughed more to himself than anyone else, looking beyond the Camp Palace in which they sat. Erion wondered what memory of the woman he’d triggered in the prince. “She’s more like family, I suppose.”

“Family?” Erion considered this for a long moment. “A new potential recruit for the Golden Guard?”

“She’s shaping up with skill enough,” Baldair agreed. “But, no, my brother would char me should I do something that he could perceive in the slightest as laying claim to the girl.”

Now, that was an interesting bit of information. In all the time Erion had known Aldirk he’d been an incredibly reserved noble. Really, it was impressive how close he managed to keep things to his chest. Erion would never give a Ci’Dan the pleasure, but he considered Aldrik to be a role-model prince for both Empire and Mhashan.

“Your brother…” Erion shifted the conversation as gently as possible. The golden haired prince stared into his mug as though it held every secret of the universe. He sighed heavily and shook his head. “There’s been no further word. I’m sure Jax told you what Elecia sent?”

Erion nodded.

“I know no more than that.”

The royal family was, indeed, in turmoil. Baldair’s brow was not prepared to ever wear the crown and Erion knew well that the younger prince didn’t want it. Erion sighed heavily. He’d been stubborn, but it began to make sense. Jax’s insistence. The woman’s secrecy. If Aldrik would no longer ascend the throne there would be mass uncertainty. The West would be none too pleased by the notion, even if they’d lost their connection to the throne due to the elder prince falling in battle. There would be questioning of Baldair’s capability to lead. And the North would see the Empire as fragile as it likely would be if such a truth came to pass. Erion would need to move carefully. Things were changing and his family was depending on him to keep the Le’Dans relevant in whatever the next world order would hold.

Erion genuinely sipped his mug, letting the ale wash over his tongue. “He’ll be all right,” Erion said, finally. “Aldrik will rise from the pass. The winds are howling here in Soricium for him. There is no other way.” Baldair considered Erion for a long moment. The prince knew clearly now of Erion’s suspicions about the woman. With one statement Erion had conveyed his understanding of the situation, his knowledge of the woman and her need for secrecy, as well as his assumptions surrounding Aldrik and the Windwalker.

The golden prince finally nodded, resting his shoulder lightly against Erion’s in support, just barely touching. “Yes, there is no other way.”

Elise Kova has always had a passion for storytelling. She wrote her first novella, a high-fantasy, in sixth grade. Over the years she’s honed her love of literature with everything from fantasy to romance, science fiction to mystery, and whatever else catches her eye.

Elise lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida, where she’s currently working on the next installment in her debut YA fantasy series: Air Awakens. She enjoys video games, anime, table-top role playing games, and many other forms of “geekdom.” She loves talking with fans on Twitter (@EliseKova) and Facebook. Visit her website, EliseKova.com, for news and extras about her books!